Overview
- Commercial real estate firm CBRE found Atlanta under construction capacity jumped about 52% year‑over‑year to roughly 2,882 megawatts, making the metro the largest U.S. market for new data‑center buildouts.
- National polling shows broad public opposition to new data centers near homes, with surveys reporting between roughly 63% and 75% of respondents against local projects.
- State regulators and utilities are changing planning and rates to account for data‑center demand, including a Georgia Public Service Commission plan that adds 9,885 megawatts of capacity and temporary rate measures to protect customers.
- Local conflict is producing legal fights and complaints over water, noise and property damage, exemplified by a Gwinnett County lawsuit accusing Meta and county officials of contaminating wells and harming nearby homes.
- The Atlanta surge is driven by state incentives, lower operating costs, available labor and an established supply chain, and it could shift where power upgrades, permitting fights and political battles over local control occur next.